By Jackie Sheckler Finch

When Zoran Kikic went to sea as a young man, an experienced mariner gave Zoran and other new sailors some friendly advice: Be cautious about signing on for more voyages or the sea will become your lifelong passion.

“He told us to think not twice but to think five times before we came back on a ship,” Zoran said.  “He said it will get in your blood and the ship will become your life.’ Read more...

By Jackie Sheckler Finch

Sprouting out of the Albanian hillside like a poisonous mushroom, the concrete bunker is one of the weirdest things I have ever seen. But, unbelievably, the story behind it is even more strange.

“A crazy dictator built the bunkers,” said M/V Athena cruise program director Antun Matičević. “He built almost 800,000 bunkers to protect Albania. They were never used and now they are protecting rocks.” Read more...

Settling into my cabin on the M/V Athena, I as surprised that it is larger than expected and quite comfortable. I thought the 50-passenger M/V Athena might have smaller rooms but this is plenty roomy for two. Since I am traveling alone, I feel a bit pampered with the extra space. Read more...